Lazio Defender Welcomes Interest From Arsenal

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Agent of Lazio defender Luis Pedro Cavanda has welcomed rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal FC in the summer.

Arsene Wenger is believed to be in the market for a new right-back as reports suggest that Bacary Sagna might be a big name exit from the Emirates this summer. The Frenchman has been affected by injuries and poor form of late. It is also believed that Arsenal are unwilling to offer a big new contract to Sagna considering his age and fitness concerns, which means that the defender is most likely to look for a new club this summer. This has also been fuelled by the fact that Jenkinson has performed extremely well whenever he has got an opportunity to start in the first team.

With the summer transfer window round the corner, rumour mills have already linked a number of players to the Gunners. The latest name, which has been added to that long list is that of Lazio’s young fullback Luis Pedro Cavanda.

The 22-year-old was experiencing a breakthrough season at Lazio, that is until the reported contract dispute kicked in. The highly rated Belgium U-21 international, who joined the club’s youth team back in 2007 from Standard Liege, has spent most of his time out on loan after being promoted to the first team squad.

But this season, in the beginning, it seemed as if Cavanda has finally grabbed a permanent place in the starting eleven under manager Vladimir Petkovic. But he soon found himself out of the team once again as talks between the club and the player over a new contract came to a standstill. His current contract ends in 2014, but according to his agent, they are looking for other options in the summer.

Ulisse Savini, Cavanda’s agent, has said that although they are yet to receive any official offer from Arsenal, but if the rumours of their interest in the defender is true it is something to be proud of.

“Pedro is currently out of the team, so it is natural that we are looking around.

“It will not be easy to find a solution that makes Lazio happy, but we will try.

“Arsenal’s interest? I don’t know about it, but if there is interest then we would be flattered.” – Savini was quoted in press.

Luis Pedro Cavanda’s biggest strength as a defender is his versatility. The 22-year-old can play both as a right-back and as a left back and this makes him a good option considering Arsenal’s perennial injury problems. But is he up to Arsenal’s standard? At this point of his career, Jenkinson is a better right back than him, so even if Sagna leaves the club and Cavanda joins them, he is unlikely to be a regular starter.